Traditionally, ‘partnership agreements’ in football generally mean one (bigger) club is using another (smaller) club in order to develop their mediocre youth prospects, while occasionally poaching their best players.

Shafting, I believe, is the colloquial expression.

But while Tottenham’s new venture with Real Madrid may have initially appeared to be nothing more than the traditional ‘feeder club’ deal, it may actually turn out to be a masterstroke from Daniel Levy.

The Spurs chairman has spent the majority of the summer haggling over a price with the Spanish champions for Luka Modric, and although it seems he may have fallen short in terms of value (final fee is said to be worth £27 million excluding add-ons), the partnership announcement is certainly a fascinating one.

Spurs now (in theory) have ‘an in’ at debatably the biggest club in world football

Clearly, a club like Real wouldn’t enter into any arrangement regarding future player transfers unless there was a significant upside for them, so it’s safe to assume long-term target Gareth Bale already has one foot in the Bernabeu.

However, while the Welshman’s departure from White Hart Lane would certainly represent a blow, it’s also an inevitable outcome, which I’m sure the Spurs board (and the more realistic fans) have braced themselves for.

The difference now is that Spurs will presumably have options to sign/loan a host of talented cast-offs which Real’s multi-million pound side can’t accommodate.
Lassana Diarra, Kaka, Esteban Granero and Raphael Varane are just a few names who struggle to see regular action under Jose Mourinho, but are certainly not players any other major European side would turn their noses up at given the chance to take them on board for a season or longer.

Of course, the exact type of deal Spurs have in place with Real is unknown to most, and while you can be sure the Spaniards won’t be under any obligation to hand over their stars if there is a better offer on the table elsewhere, at least Spurs now (in theory) have ‘an in’ at debatably the biggest club in world football.

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